I.OTHER THAN THE INFLUENCE OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS INSPIRED WORD,
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE IS THE MOST POWER INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD.

A.There is power for evil in the wrong kind of influence.

1 Cor. 5:1, 6, “It
is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such
fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should
have his father’s wife.

Your glorying is
not good, Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”

B.There is also power for good in the right kind of influence.
Therefore, we should use our influence for the glory of God.

Matt. 5:16, “Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.”

Rom. 14:7-8, “For
none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we
live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

II.WE WILL NOW DISCUSS FOUR PERTINENT AREAS IN WHICH THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
CAN PREACH GREAT SERMONS.

Discussion:

I.FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS.

1 Pet. 2:11,
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

A.What are fleshly lusts?

1.“Lust” means uncontrolled desire.

James 1:12-16,
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he
shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust
hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

2.In Peter’s writings, “flesh” refers to the human nature apart from
God. It is life without the standards, help, grace, and influence of the
Lord.

B.You and I must abstain from fleshly lusts because it will not only
destroy our influence, but also bring us into eternal damnation.

C.The motives for abstaining from lusts include the following:

1.First, “fleshly lusts” ware against the soul.

Matt. 16:26, “For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

1 Tim. 6:6-8, “But
godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this
word, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content.”

2.Second, in Christ we have staked our claim for eternal life.

1 John 3:1-3,
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it
knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

3.Third, we have already emphasized how to remain spiritually clean and
not become polluted through the ungodly elements of the world.

1 Pet. 1:14:16, “As
obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in
your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

II.THE CHRISTIAN SILENTLY PREACHES GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

1 Pet. 2:13-17,
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it
be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a
cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

A.Christians were often falsely accused of being law breakers.

1 Pet. 2:15, “For
so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men:”

B.Christians must not use “liberty” as a license to violate either God’s
law or man’s law.

1 Pet. 2:16, “As
free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as
the servants of God.”

C.However, the Christian always recognizes God’s law as superior to human
authority.

Acts 5:29, “Then
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God
rather than men.”

III.THE CHRISTIAN’S BUSINESS LIFE IS ALSO A SILENT SERMON.

A.Though framed in the language of slavery, the principles pertaining to
employers and employees must be respected.

1 Pet. 2:18-19,
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to
the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy,
if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.”

1 Cor. 10:31,
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God.”

B.Let both the Christian employer and employee remember the power of a
godly life.

1 Pet. 2:12,
“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

IV.THERE IS POWER IN A GODLY LIFE IN THE HOME.

1 Pet. 3:1-7,
(Either read or elaborate upon this passage).

A.Peter acknowledges the possibility of the wife being unable to teach,
by words, to her unbelieving husband.

B.The wife is to be in subjection to her husband.

C.And the husband is to respect his wife.

D.What is true of a Christian lady’s influence upon her husband is also
true of all Christians.

Acts 4:13, “Now
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them,
that they had been with Jesus.”

Rom. 12:17,
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of
all men.”

Conclusion:

You and I owe it to
God, to our fellowman, and to our self to live a faithful Christian life.

Poem: THE
GOSPELACCORDING TO YOU

You are
writing a Gospel,

A chapter
each day,

By the deeds
that you do,

By the words
that you say.

Men read
what you write,

Whether
faithless or true,

Say! What
is the gospel,

According to
YOU?

Matt. 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of
the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?
it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden
under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.”